Secret Books Books in Order

The Secret Books are a middle-grade mystery and fantasy sequence built around one very dangerous idea, the Secret. Pseudonymous Bosch treats the subject with a straight face and a wink. The narrator repeatedly tells readers not to continue, then fills the pages with clues, warnings, and side comments that make continuing feel like the only sensible choice.

At the center are Cass and Max-Ernest. Cass is a resourceful survivalist who is used to being on her own, while Max-Ernest is a nonstop talker and an expert worrier. Their friendship starts after they find a mysterious box of scented vials and begin following a trail left by a missing magician. What looks like a strange local case soon opens onto secret societies and people who will do almost anything for the Secret.

The main story runs through five novels. The Name of This Book is Secret starts the mystery, followed by If You're Reading This, It's Too Late, where the pair takes on work for the Terces Society. This Book Is Not Good For You brings Cass's kidnapped mother and a sinister chocolatier into the story, while This Isn't What It Looks Like splits the action between Cass's strange journey and Max-Ernest's search for a way to wake her.

Then the museum trouble begins.

You Have To Stop This brings Cass, Max-Ernest, and Yo-Yoji into a natural history museum mystery involving a mummy, missing evidence, and the series' biggest unanswered questions. Across the books, the threats can be creepy, but the mood stays lively. There are smell-based clues, magical objects, wordplay, chocolate, and frequent reminders that the author may be hiding something from the reader.

Write This Book sits alongside the series as an interactive companion rather than the next chapter of Cass and Max-Ernest's adventure. It turns the setup inside out by claiming that the author has left a mystery unfinished. Readers are invited to use prompts, puzzles, and choices to help create the story, which makes it a good pick for anyone who likes the series' playful format.

Start with The Name of This Book is Secret and follow the five core novels in order. Save Write This Book for when you want to step into the author's game yourself. The books suit readers who enjoy mysteries that are funny, slightly spooky, and willing to break the rules of storytelling.